Learning Labs

Tuesday, October 12
9:00 A.M - 12:00 P.M.
Preregistration required (unlike other concurrent sessions)

Learning labs provide in-depth grounding in a topic and allow for hands-on work in small groups, peer mentoring, and coaching from faculty.

Filing the Form 990-PF

Without knowing it, many private foundations make costly mistakes on their Form 990-PF tax returns. Top foundation accountants will give tax planning tips and an analysis of the Form 990-PF to help you identify trouble spots with your form and ways to save your foundation money. This session will cover history of the form, as well as compliance and enforcement, and is designed for donors, trustees, and staff who prepare and/or sign your foundation’s 990-PF. Bring your return and follow along!

Roadmap to Financial Health: Your Investment Policy Statement

Where is your foundation going, and how will you get there? An investment policy statement (IPS) can help. In an IPS, asset classes, risk, and diversification are integrated with the foundation’s investment and spending policies. Learn about the benefits of this critical tool—your roadmap for maximizing returns and meeting your grantmaking goals.

Facilitation: Tools of the Trade

This session is at capacity.
Skilled facilitation is a key ingredient for effective foundation leaders. From board meetings to grantee convenings to funder collaboratives, being able to lead productive conversations strengthens your work and makes it more enjoyable. You’ll have a chance to observe techniques, practice, and get feedback. And the skills and tips you gather can be applied in all sorts of settings!

Program Related Investments: Do Good and Get Your Money Back

Did you know that foundations are making loans to grantees or deposits at community banks? Program related investments (PRIs) include a fascinating array of tools to recycle your assets while furthering your mission. Particularly when money is tight, this innovative—and not necessarily complex—approach can be valuable. Learn about the world of PRIs, including common methods, accounting, and more. You’ll even examine your mission and grantmaking portfolio to evaluate, with expert guidance, ways that PRIs might move your mission further.

Funding Public Education

This session is at capacity.
Discuss the strategies and considerations for grantmaking in K–12 public education, how to assess opportunities, and how to focus your giving to improve the lives of children. Join fellow trustees, staff, and donors who are new to the issues or interested in reassessing their current grantmaking in public education.

Identifying Winning Nonprofits Intensive

This session is at capacity.
Choosing grantees is one of most critical variables in the success of your giving. Through case studies and stories from funders, we’ll examine strategies and practice critical questioning skills to help you identify winning nonprofits. Learn how to pick organizations that have the most potential for impact and use your giving to maximize their winning potential.

At the Board Table

Boards have many responsibilities and must work together to manage the foundation and operate its programs. It’s a lot to juggle! We’ll review the basics of good governance, and you’ll have a chance to dive deeper into subjects such as the board’s role in grantmaking, board self-assessment, succession planning, financial oversight, and geographic dispersion. Return to your own board table with new ideas, tools, and strategies.

Legal Intensive

For a handle on the essential legal requirements of private foundations, look no further! You’ll learn about board responsibilities, the private foundation rules, and staying legal in grantmaking. You’ll also get an inside scoop on what the attorneys know and have a chance to practice your new legal skills..

International Grantmaking: Nuts and Bolts

Even the smallest donors can—and do—fund internationally and consider it a meaningful and effective part of their giving. Learn from those give internationally, walk through the steps of creating an international giving strategy, and explore great resources to help along the way. Leave with insights to help you craft or fine-tune your approach to international giving.

Impact Intensive

Making a real difference with your giving is possible, but you must first define what you want to achieve and how you’re going to get there. Starting with your passion, we’ll walk you through the essential questions to formulate a clear and thoughtful plan for achieving your desired impact, a key step before you can make grants effectively or evaluate for impact. This is the first of three sessions in the conference’s impact series.